Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-10-22
DfVEHSiTY IN aGRIcrLrURE.


The farmers of the country complain thf
they cannot raise certain crops-those'
usually, that provide the staple articles oil
food-with profit. The country is 50 large
that there is likely. in any good year. 10
be an over supply of corn. wheat, hogs and
cattle. Especially is this true when crops
in the old world are good and the foreign
crops in America ard short crops abroad,
then there is profit in pursuing the old
paths in agriculture; but il is impossible for
4 farmer to know anything at all. when he
two favorns possibilities. or both. will he
realized.
Asa result of these facts much is begin
ming to be said aboutthe diverSifvinG of the
lines Of enterprise in agriculture and in
vestigstion is running in this direction.
Are there not fo2dproducing articles other
than wheat, corn, potatoes and beef and
pork. that can be raised in many localities.
with profit Our people no longer eat
potatoes, meat and bread alone. but the
great mass supply their tables with other
articles of food. and vary their bills of fare
from day to day and from month TO month.
Experience proves that indulgence in a di-
versity of dishes the use OF certain
articles of diet at one season of the year,
and Of others at other Seasons-iS whole
some. in that it promotes pleasure. comfort
and good health. What shall we eat and
when and how shall We eat it? and who
shall eat certain kinds of food" are ques-
tions that are receiving good deal of care
full and scientific attention. and the Gnes-
tion for the farmer to ask is-What do peo-
pie eat in my locality. in the several sea
sons of the year.
One thing is evident namely. we are be-
coming a nation of fruit-eaters. and are
growing more AMI more so. Fruit was at one
time considered To he only a luxury. Now,
happily. it is known TO be- a staple: and
having become a staple. there is less de-
mand for the old line of stapl.s-potaioes.
meat and bread. For. As matter of course.
the more fruit one eats the less he will eat
of the articles mentioned. Now. how much
OF this fruit can We raise in our own lecali
ty: should be regarded as the practical
question everywhere. We ought not to
bring from abroad anything which
We can raise here. To do so isn't
enterprising-it is not businesS-like.
Why should We bring sweet potatoes from
New Jersey 10 Springfield There is no
good reason for il. We can plant and
raise New Jersey potatoes in sandy and
sunny spots in Clark county. of good
flavor and good enough for kings table
or if stronger expression is necessary
good enough for the palate of an honest.
industrious. frugal workingman. who is en-
titled to the best the earth affords. and not
unfreQuently gets it, Why can't we raise
bleached celery, of the best variety. in
Clark county, instead of importing it from
Michigan and putting our good money in
circulation in that state:
1t Is now quite evident that one of the
future products of the United States will be
the sugar beet. Germany and France raise
this crop in large quantities and its Juice is
made INTO very beautiful loa8 sugar. We
have large belt Of soil inithis country in
which We can raise the sugar beet with as
good results as il can be raised in France
or in any other country, and machinery for
beet sugar has already been introduced in
America. We use a great deal al sugar
and ~e -iRberf much of it. Ne ought
pcs1 StoS import an ounce. Ameri-
cans -siiouNd' . fovide their tables.
so far as'possible. from their own soil. Po-
litical economy says so: sound, practical
sense says so: and then if we can raise
large quantities of supplies-tf msnufac-
ture them and put them oni@st tn markets.
We shall greatly promote our prosperity as
. people. Great strides have been made in
this direction in the last few years. One
significant fact is tnat We have corner on
maize, or Indian corn. and this staple is ca
pable o. an almost infinite degree Of devel-
opment.
In phrase-let us say that the American
farmer must use his brain. and not simply
his mnsc!e. in tilling the soil. Intelligence,
intellect and culture are as much needed on
the farm as in the machine shop and in the
Offices of men of the professions. Let u>
fertilize the broad acres Of our great cou
try with brain as well as with bone-dust,
and we shall see that revolution will en-
sue. Farmers must think, as well as act
and think that they may know how To act
to the best advantage.